Craft Envy: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Saturday Spotlight #99

We're almost to Saturday Spotlight #100! I seriously can't wait--be sure to come back later this week for the celebration giveaway!

As for my absence last week, me and the hubs had a little mini getaway celebrating our five year anniversary. (We thought it was a pretty big accomplishment :) So that's a legit excuse, right?

RULES:

1) First, create a blog entry about something you made yourself. Post our Saturday Spotlight button under your post or somewhere on your blog so that others can find all of your awesome links at Saturday Spotlight. Our linky party button is on the right side of our blog. Just copy the html code to the bottom of your blog post. If you would like to keep it somewhere else on your blog where others can see it, that's also ok.
2) Next, add your blog post name down below and then add the link of the blog entry about your project (not your homepage) . To get your link, click on the title of your blog post that you would like to enter and then copy the address that appears in the address bar up top, and paste it down below. It should look about like this: http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/2009/07/your_project.html.

Buttons and Bows Custom Blog Design!

I just have to give a shout out to Buttons and Bows Custom Blog Design!
Cause I'm totally loving the new face on my blog!

Kelsey is amazing. She is awesome to work with, and so reliable. This is my girl from now on.

She creates everything from scratch and has the best prices, hands down, for a custom blog design.

So seriously....

Check out Buttons and Bows Custom Blog Design when you're ready for a new face on your blog!

Skinny Avocado Ranch Dressing

I came up with this recipe a few weeks back when I was craving some of the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing that you get in the little packet, and make yourself. While I was reading the back, I realized something. Why not add a healthy fat like avocado instead of sour cream or mayo? So I threw an avocado in with a packet of the ranch and a little milk. I realized that it was pretty powerful...VERY POWERFUL. So I threw in another avocado....and VOILA. It was perfect. I've tried this recipe out on my family with a Southwest type salad and they love it. It's now a family favorite!

Avocado Ranch Dressing

1 pkg Dry Ranch Dip (like Hidden Valley)

2 Med. Avocados

1/2 c.(+) Milk (use skim to make it skinny!)

Chop up avocados, (if they aren't very soft) and throw into your blender. Add Ranch dip packet and 1/2 c. milk. Add more milk to thin if necessary.

I recommend to serve it over a southwest salad:
Greens, black beans, corn, blackened chicken, cilantro, tomatoes, tortilla strips, cheese.

Variations: You could throw in some cilantro, tomatillos, and/or jalapeno for a mexican style dressing.

Monday: Sew Can Do, Graphics Fairy, Mad In Crafts, It's So Very Cheri, Skip To My Lou, The Girl Creative, DIY Showoff, Making The World Cuter, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Trendy Treehouse,

Tuesday: Sweet Floweret, Hope Studios,

Wednesday: Sugar Bee, Silly Little Sparrow, Today's Creative Blog,

Thursday:Someday Crafts, The Thrifty Home,

Friday:Beyond The Picket Fence, Train To Crazy, 733, Shabby Cottage, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Somewhat Simple, Thirty Handmade Days, Shabby Nest,

Hodgepodge Friday, Fun To Craft, Tidy Mom, Finding Fabulous, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Simply Sweet Home,

Chic On a Shoe String, Kojo Designs.

Saturday: Show and Tell, I Am Only One Woman, The Hungry Hippo, Funky Junk Interiors, Saturday Spotlight @ Craft Envy.

Descriptive Child's Photo

I was on pinterest a few months ago looking for ideas for toddler boy photographs. I combined a few of the ideas that I liked: 1. a little man in his little man undies, and 2. adding all of the things this little guy LOVES right now {cause I wanna remember what Jack was like at exactly this age}. So I came up with this little descriptive photograph of my 3 year old son.

...and I totally love it. It's my little dude captured in one little picture!

We did take some more formal photographs {not half naked, haha} of him over at Gardner Village in a little suit which turned out super cute too...but this is my favorite :P

Monday: Sew Can Do, Graphics Fairy, Mad In Crafts, It's So Very Cheri, Skip To My Lou, The Girl Creative, DIY Showoff, Making The World Cuter, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Trendy Treehouse,

Tuesday: Sweet Floweret, Hope Studios,

Wednesday: Sugar Bee, Silly Little Sparrow, Today's Creative Blog,

Thursday:Someday Crafts, The Thrifty Home,

Friday:Beyond The Picket Fence, Train To Crazy, 733, Shabby Cottage, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Somewhat Simple, Thirty Handmade Days, Shabby Nest,

Hodgepodge Friday, Fun To Craft, Tidy Mom, Finding Fabulous, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Simply Sweet Home,

Chic On a Shoe String, Kojo Designs.

Saturday: Show and Tell, I Am Only One Woman, The Hungry Hippo, Funky Junk Interiors, Saturday Spotlight @ Craft Envy.

Saturday Spotlight #98: A Craft Link Up Party

WELCOME crafty friends! I just got thinking, we're getting close to the 100th link up party, which, I think calls for a giveway! Whoohoo! So stay tuned.

This week I shared my recipe for my tangy Chicken Avocado Enchiladas.

A few of the awesome links from last week's party:

Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Brownies. Shut up. I will be trying these!

I love this idea for a kid's craft--a Clothespin Wreath.

Chicken Avocado Enchiladas

We had some friends over a few nights ago and decided to cook enchiladas. I found a recipe for avocado enchiladas that I liked and changed up a bit for a more carnivorous, yet health conscious crowd. Needless to say, they turned out marvelous! I had some of the leftovers for lunch the following day and I must say, I think they were even more tasty as a leftover!

2 Large Ripe, Avocados Sliced
1/2 Lb. Cooked, Shredded Chicken
1 T. Cumin
2 Lg. Cloves of Garlic, minced
1/4 Cup Lime Juice
1/3 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Cilantro, chopped
1 1/2 Cup Green Enchilada Sauce + 4 T.
1 Lite Sour Cream (could use heavy cream if you really wanna be naughty :)
Pepperjack Cheese (or other spicy cheese), grated
Cheddar Cheese, grated
Whole Wheat Tortillas (or white)
Cilantro (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour 4 T. enchilada sauce into your 9 x 13 pan and spread around. Lay out 10 tortilla shells and distribute slices of avocado evenly among shells (2-3 slices each).

Next, place a little pepper jack cheese on each shell.

In a bowl, whisk together the cumin, garlic, lime, honey, and cilantro. Combine with shredded chicken. Add a little chicken mixture to each tortilla shell until all have an even amount of filling.

Mix sour cream and enchilada sauce together.

Roll up enchiladas and place in your baking dish, seam side down. (I do eight across and two on the Spoon a little enchilada sauce over all of the enchiladas and top with both types of grated cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 min or until bubbly and golden brown.